Lewis Hamilton has exercised caution that Ferrari is under “no illusions” about its prospects for the 2026 Formula 1 season, despite an apparently positive pre-season testing week.
The Scuderia appeared to grow in stature over the course of the five-test schedule in Barcelona, which culminated in Hamilton reportedly setting the fastest time of the final day, and indeed, the whole programme.
Both Hamilton and team-mate Charles Leclerc set, according to the unconfirmed numbers, relatively impressive numbers, including race distances.
The intriguing SF-26’s power unit, used by both Haas and Cadillac, also appeared to run without too many issues, with the former American squad completing some high runs too, Oliver Bearman ending Friday with 106 laps clocked.
It is, without a doubt, a crunch year for the Maranello squad, after a miserable and winless 2025, but the new regulations cycle throws up unpredictability on a potentially unprecedented scale.
Hamilton, therefore, is very much keeping his feet on the ground, but is definitely keeping his glass half full.
“Everyone is positive and incredibly enthusiastic,” he said.
“I mean, we’re under no illusions. We know we’ve got work to do, Mercedes has done great running, and Red Bull and Haas did as well.
“So I don’t know really where we are, but I think it is a solid first week, and we can really build from here, so there may be some big leaps that we need to take.
“Development is going to be key, and it is just making sure that we leave no stone left unturned, and that we are really clear and concise with our communication and the decisions we take.
“It is going to take all of us to be at our best, and I’m just seeing everyone coming with a new energy this year, which is great.”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton raises Ferrari hopes with top spot on final day of 2026 F1 test
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